Albuquerque Police Violated Civil Rights, Justice Department Finds

Widespread Pattern of Excessive Force Cited in Report

By

Dan Frosch

Updated April 10, 2014 2:45 p.m. ET

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—City police here committed civil-rights violations by engaging in a widespread pattern of excessive and deadly force during encounters with civilians who posed little if any threat, the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday.

The sharply critical findings were the result of a 16-month civil-rights investigation examining the Albuquerque Police Department's high rate of officer-involved shootings, and accusations...